Maryland’s largest research park encompasses two million square feet, over 150 acres, and employs an estimated 6,500 people.
The Discovery District stretches from Baltimore Avenue to the research-rich and metro accessible community along River Road. It offers flexible office space locations from co-working options to R&D space for startup companies, contractors, and technology corporations.
The Discovery District is a hub of activity as it is home to local attractions including The Hotel at UMD, WeWork College Park (the first WeWork to be located at any university campus in the U.S.), and The Hall CP.
The research park also boasts among its neighbors the oldest continually operating airport in the United States, the College Park Airport.
We want to continue to build the ecosystem of entrepreneurship and innovation and economic development. The Discovery District is supposed to be about discovery, but it’s also about creating jobs for Prince George's County and College Park.
Use Discovery District to…
-
Find a lab/office for my venture
The Discovery District is the home to dozens of businesses, startups, federal government agencies, and the first WeWork at a university campus. If you are in need of a lab or office for your venture and want to leverage the benefits of being part of a vibrant community and home of the state's flagship institution, then contact Discovery District Manager Sammy Popat at spopat@umd.edu.
-
Find and invest in startups
One of the tenants of the Discovery District is the Investment Manager for the Maryland Momentum Fund, as well as for the Dingman Center Angels. To connect with these resources, contact Stan Smith at stsmith7@umd.edu.
-
Find entrepreneurship events
A variety of entrepreneurship events are hosted in the Discovery District each year including the annual Innovate Maryland celebration. These events can currently be found on the Innovation Gateway homepage.
-
Get business advice for my venture
The Discovery District is the home of the Director of Faculty Startup Support, UM Ventures Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs), and the Maryland Small Business Development Center. To receive business advice from the Director of Faculty Startup Support, contact Alla McCoy at acmccoy@umd.edu. If you are affiliated with the University of Maryland as a student, faculty, or an alumnus, you can schedule an appointment with an EIR. If you are launching or have a current venture in the state of Maryland, you can receive free business counseling through the SBDC.
-
Identify/apply for funding & grants
If your venture is seeking funding and/or grants, there are several resources located within the Discovery District that may be of assistance. The SBDC team can provide information regarding available loans, grants, and other funding sources. The Director of Faculty Startup Support also can provide guidance on available funding sources for research grants and more. Please contact Alla McCoy at acmccoy@umd.edu, if you are a UMD professor or graduate student.
-
Launch my venture
If you are an aspiring entrepreneur and you are ready to launch a new venture in the state of Maryland, the SBDC is a fantastic resource as its trained counselors are available to direct you to pertinent legal, financial, and general business information. For all UMD professors and graduate students considering the viability of a business idea, the Director of Faculty Startup Support can provide specific guidance on launching a new venture. Please contact Alla McCoy at acmccoy@umd.edu.
-
Partner with UMD more broadly
If you are a corporation, business or startup interested in engaging the University of Maryland and all if has to offer as one of the nation's best public research institutions, then please contact UMD's Innovation & Economic Development team at innovate@umd.edu.
-
Relocate my venture to College Park
With all that is going on the University of Maryland, as well as the surrounding community, the Discovery District is a desirable destination for corporations, businesses, startups, federal agencies, government contractors, and research partners. If you are interested in learning more about this research park and the benefits of relocating to the Discovery District, please contact Sammy Popat at spopat@umd.edu.